Thursday, December 8, 2011

THIRD CORE GROUP MEETING

WEDNESDAY KOINONIA: FINAL ‘CORE GROUP’ MEETING (7 December 2011)

è Studies for first 3-4 months: The ‘Fruits of the Spirit’ (Galatians 5:22,23) -

Love (affection for others TM: ie. The Message) (Rowland to lead the first three studies/devotions – 1. Love for God: how can we measure that? 2. Love for Self: when is it healthy/unhealthy? 3. Love for others, including enemies: how are we supposed to do that?

Joy (exuberance about life TM)

Peace (serenity TM)

Patience (a willingness to stick with things TM)

Kindness (a sense of compassion in the heart TM)

Generosity (goodness NIV, REB, a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people TM)

èContact Rowland if you’d like to give a 10/20 minute introduction/Scripture study on one of these, together with discussion questions. Suggest other studies/themes or guest speakers ‘down the track’? AOK.

èIs the name Wednesday Koinonia OK? Yes: however (community/fellowship) in brackets after the name might help.

èWho to invite? We leave that to our regulars’ discretion. (Use the nice invites Janice Perkins has printed off: more available if needed). Check with Rowland or Jan Croucher if in doubt

èMusic / PA / Ppt / Youtube/ A capella? Who chooses? Concerts? Decide as we go. Rob Perkins to talk with a few techos about using powerpoint etc. Music selection – let’s be sensitive to the ethos of the group/ each other – our songs will come from various Christian traditions.

èAdministrator: keeping it simple: Rob Perkins? Yes.

èPA to Rowland – Jan Newham? Yes.

èSharing/offerings: Gold coin for coffee/tea/cookies? Trading table for mission projects etc.? Offering bowl for other projects/gifts to EDBC for use of facilities etc.? Yes, yes, yes.

èMission Project: Opportunity International – a West Timor village lifted above poverty-line? Yes: Jan Croucher to invite an Opportunity International representative to talk to us as soon as possible in Feb.

èPraying in 3’s/4’s – happy for Jan/Rowland to suggest prayer-partners? Yes. (Some will prefer to pray regularly with the same two or three; others would like to move around; some are OK with praying aloud; others reticent: we’ll need to be sensitive to all these – and other – factors).

èUpdate from Rowland on some other matters of current interest (Lilydale Baptists etc.) . Let’s pray for Matt Glover and his family and the church – and also the Baptist Union of Victoria, which is getting a mixed public press on all this. And let’s not forget those caught in the cross-fire, especially gay/lesbian folk who started to attend the church.

èEast Doncaster Baptist Church is listed among about 8 or 9 Victorian Baptist Churches as being gay-friendly/welcoming. Our group is very happy to endorse this emphasis.